A tank assembly for a helicopter is provided. The tank assembly comprises a retractable tank for storing liquid or other substances. The retractable tank comprises an upper frame structure. The tank assembly further comprises an attachment mechanism attached to the upper frame structure and configured to engage a main rotor transmission of the helicopter to suspend therefrom. A helicopter comprising a fuselage, a main rotor transmission, and a tank assembly is also provided.

A system for opening a lid of a bin comprises a guide channel plate comprising an elongated member, a first guide channel comprising a first slot formed within and along the length of the guide channel plate, and a second guide channel comprising a second slot formed within and along the length of the guide channel plate and parallel to the first guide channel slot. A block plate fits within the first and second guide channels and is secured by a block plate clamp. The block plate connects to a linear actuator that is secured to a support member of the bin. A slide block fits compressively within the first and second guide channels thus securing a flexible link assembly and wherein the slide block connects to the linear actuator. A connector plate allows connecting and disconnecting of the linear actuator.

A cassette for accommodating glass includes: a cassette main body for accommodating a plurality of glasses; a housing arranged on at least one side of the cassette main body and including a plurality of openings arranged side by side in one direction; and a plurality of doors configured to open and close the plurality of openings.

An apparatus for sealing a vacuum tank door. The apparatus comprises a circular flange attached to a door panel of a vacuum tank, a horizontal crossbar connected to the center of the door panel and a lifting assembly. The lifting assembly comprises an upper linkage arm, a lower linkage arm, and a hydraulic cylinder. Activation of the hydraulic cylinder causes the linkage assembly to move downwards pulling on the horizontal crossbar and pulling the vacuum tank door towards the tank. Activation of the hydraulic cylinder also causes a connection point of the lower linkage arm and the upper linkage arm to move over-center of the connection between the lower linkage arm to the to the tank creating a tight seal between the vacuum tank door and the tank.

An unloader for a shipping container includes a supporter having a frame structure and a pallet base supported by the frame structure and configured to receive the pallet and support the shipping container in an elevated position. A gate moving mechanism is supported by the pallet base and configured to engage the moveable gate assembly when the full shipping container is positioned onto the pallet base. A material director has a first end located beneath the pallet base subjacent of the gate moving mechanism. The material director extends downwardly from the pallet base and terminates at a second end opposite the first end. Bulk material is dispensed from the shipping container into the first end and is discharged from the second end of the material director. Shipping containers may be positioned onto and removed from the pallet base without disassembly of the unloader.

A container is constructed to carry granular material from a quarry or source to the frac site. An open frame the size of a standard cargo container is constructed. An enclosed hopper is formed using flat sheet metal with bolted together perpendicular edges. The hopper is set within, and attached to, the frame. Top hatches provide for loading the hopper, and a lower sliding gate in a bottom opening provides for unloading the hopper. The bottom of the hopper is at an angle slightly above the angle of repose of the granular material carried therein.

A vacuum system for use in excavation operations. The system uses a tank having an open end that is closed by a door. The door is opened and closed by a door lifting assembly made up of an upper linkage arm, a lower linkage arm and a hydraulic cylinder. A socket is formed in the upper linkage arm, and a shaft housing is formed in the lower linkage arm. The shaft housing engages with the socket to latch the door closed. The upper linkage arm is attached to the door at a first pivot axis and is attached to the lower linkage arm at a second pivot axis. The lower linkage arm is attached to a side of the tank at a third pivot axis. When the door is open, the second pivot axis extends below a reference plane that contains the first and third pivot axis.

An intermodal container for transporting frac proppant, such as frac sand, and/or other types of granular material is disclosed. The intermodal container is designed to receive frac sand from a quarry or other frac sand supply source. Once the container is filled with material, the container is loaded onto a transportation device and transported to a well site. Once received at the well site, the containers can be stacked and the frac sand stored until needed. Once the frac sand is needed, the containers are placed on a base unit and the container discharges its contents onto a conveying system formed as part of the base unit. The conveying system directs the frac sand to a blending location. The empty intermodal containers can be removed from the base unit and loaded onto a transportation device to be refilled at a mine site.

An automated top door system is provided for selectively closing and opening a cargo container for top loading of cargo. The top door system includes: a door panel, a rotary actuator driven by a motor, and a coupling means connecting the door panel and the rotary actuator. The door panel is a self-supporting structural lightweight door panel, and the coupling means, which is a separate part or is part of said door panel, is configured to provide rotational movement of the door panel around a rotational axis of the rotary actuator, in response to the rotary movement provided by the rotary actuator, when in use. A top-loadable cargo container includes an automated top door system; and uses of the automated top door system in transport vehicles.

A cargo container is disclosed which contains a bottom side; a front side; a back side; a central frame connected to the front side, the back side, and the bottom side, dividing the cargo container into a multiple storing areas; a left top wing-shaped door, hingedly connected to a top of the central frame, operable to open and close down to one and a half height to the central frame; a left bottom wing-shaped door, hingedly connected at a one and a half height of the central frame; a right top door, hingedly to the said half height distance to the mid-section frame; and a right bottom door, hingedly connected to the central frame at the one and a half height of the central frame and close down to the bottom side.